Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-11-12

distance of ten feet from the ground floor,
and the platform of the gallows is even
with this tier. The woodwork of the IN
strumeut of destruction is painted. OF
rather stained u very dull reddish
hrcwo, and rs seen by the dim light
OF the ggS jets, was anything
but pleasant 10 look upcti. The ~sIr,: 81
feet was heightened by the little sentry box
which liz located just back of the trap. In
this is stationed the man who really Is the
executiOner. Into this box extends Q rope.
At the given signal the unknown man n.
side cuts the rope with a brand new and
especially sharpened chisel of wide dinner
sious by striking the chisel a heavy blow
with a mallet. Down goes the trap q dis
lance of six feet and at the same time the
murderers are launched into eternity.
Some time after midnight Parsons com
planned that the hum of conversation Ii
the ~iailer's Office annoyed him and pre-
vented him from sleeping. The wooden
door which hangs on the office side of the
heavy bars of the inner door was closed,
and the Texas Anarchist dropped in an
uneasy slumber. In the office q busy
crowd OF reporters stood writing at the
high desks, or loungel about talking with
the deputies. Occasionally a heavy step
sounded on the iron stairs outside, and the
storm door was opened, revealing a candi-
date for admission to all the horrors pro-
vided for the posseSsors OF passes. From
within the lawyers case came the metallic
click of the Associated Press instrument
dispatchipg the gathering incidents OF the
night. Along the otherwise silent cor
ridors sounded the slow, regular tramp ot
the deputies composing the death watch,
TO and fro ceaseleSsly in front of the cell
doors, behind which were the four forfeit
ed lives. At brief intervals, when the
hum of conversation sank low, could be
heard the measured tick of the clock on
the office wall, marking time for the de-
voted ones, for whom time would soon be
no more. But on the street armed police
men paced their beats, and all who had no
business in the neighbOrhood were peremp-
torily ordered 10 move on" and if they
did not move at oECe they were assisted.
The Jail proper occupies the Illinois steeei
side of the building, while that part used
BY the Criminal Court fronts on Michigan
street. On the latter front is tie main en-
trance through which all who enter must
pass. This entrance is guarded by a heavy
double iron door which is kept closed and
fastened by a paddock and chain. lmme-
diately within the door stand two trusty
policemen armed with breech-loading rifles,
and carrying thirty-eight rounds each in a
convenient cartridge-boX. 4 step sounds
in the outer vestibule, and from
the watchtul SentTies comes the stern
call ofthe bailiff, who comes there? p
A voice from the outside responds, then the
paddock opens, the chain rattles and the
doors SLIDE apart q few inches end a sur
vey is made by the guards of the individ,
ual applying for admission. If bis Gre
dentials are satisfactory the doors are open
ed sufficiently for him to pass. Inside
other guards bearing rifles move about over
the tile floor aud at the head of the wide
stairway leading TO the upper floor, the
muzzle Of the loaded rifle in the hands OF
an officer projects over the steps. The court
rooms are occupied by several companies Of
policemen with a whole arsenal OF weapons
and ammunition. On the roof are numer-
Gus s~entries ready to open fire on any sus'
picious looking individual who may ap-
Droach on the surrounding roofs. The
Jail proper is reached by crossing a narrow
court, dismal and old in the darkness. In
this part of the building special prepaIa-
tionS have been made for the reception o.
unwelcome callers. Now and then a loud
er vOice than common floats out from the
cell room here soIGe Oldinary prisoner has
Weakened with a cry, but from the cells OF
the condemned nen comes only the low
murmur of conversation between the
guards and their wards. About | O'Clock,
while thrle was comparative silence, the
occupants of the SherifTs Office were
startled by q crash and a bang from the
northern corridor. 1t was nothing only
the Sheriff7s and a few other officers expcr'
,menting with toe scaflpld and testing II
and the ropes. 4 few minutes after :
O'Clock Spies stood at the door OF his cell
smoking and talkingthrough the bars with
his guard. As the slow hours swung along,
even the proximity OF both grew
mopo:onous. Come and look at Lingg'
SAID Sheriff Matson to a group of reporters
Between 3 and 4 O'Clock the lamhle OF
wheels outside penetrated the thick walls,
and a wagon drove up and
UNLOADED FOUR COFFINS,
one for Spies, one for Engel, one for Fischer,
and one for Parsons,
At $40 all were asleep, Ficlden anC
Schwab, in their cells in the second tle'
having retired before midnight. Ia III,
first flush OF relief to them, imprisonment
for lie was a very small matter, and they
could sleep in safety. About ! O'Clock
Fischer woke, aud attei refreshing him
self with u dlaaght Of water, re
lapsed into slumber. Not many minute'
from 6 O'Clock came daylight, cold anC
~pitileSs as the law about to be avenged
and a hustle different from that OF III,
night invaded the seClusion Of the prison
The day Of the hanging had arrived. Sly
o'clock came and the rumhling Of wagons
the blowing of whistles and the ringing o
bells, told that the people outside weEt
astir. But the anarchists slept on. 1t wa
lust fifteen minutes 20 sever when Enge
awoke. Within the next ten minutes hi
three doomed companions opened theiI
eyes. They tumbled out Of their cot!
and hastily dressed themselves No CONVEX
sation took place betweent the auarchists anc
their guards. Spies and Parsons simply bic
them good morning and in a few minute,
the deputies emerged from the cell room
they were relieved by others. Fischer wa
the first to emerge from his cell. Accom-
panied by two deputies he stepped over t.
the plain iron sink and took a good wash
His every movement was closely watched
Spies next performed his additions anC
seemed to enjoy them. Old maj Enge
followed the young Anarchist, and the las
to wash was Parson.
AT BREAKFAST.
At7.20 two walters from Martell's res
~taurant brought to the prisoners theil
breakfast. The edibles were brought in {
large new clothes basket, and the linen
and table ware looked bright and clean,
: 4 little incident occurred when ParsOa'
stepped out TO wash himself, which Wa:
described by Lieutenant Laughlin. Al
the other Anarchists cOntented themseiVc:
With washing atthe tap, but when Par
sons walked up to the sink be exclaimed
II see no wash basin here and | an
accustomed to washing ina basin anC